Credit card required for all TS ADR's from 31st Oct.

Disney is to expand it's cancellation policy from 31st Oct 2013.
All table service ADR's will require a credit card and it will be charged $10 per person for no-shows. You will have to cancel before 24hrs like currently for CRT etc.

For dinner shows etc where you pay up front, the entire amount will be retained in the event of failing to cancel. The new policy also applies to non-Disney operated restaurants.

This is for bookings made from 31st Oct. If you already have one you will not be affected.

I know the Wave does not require a credit card hold and they have truly hundreds of now shows per night. 200-250 or more. It bogs down the system and prevents them from taking in walk ins. It makes for a very uncomfortable situation for the servers because people see that the place is slow but can't get seated. Disney needs to return some decision making powers to the people and not rely so heavily on the automated system.

I completely agree with the credit card hold to stop people from making multiple bookings and not showing up but 24 hours notice? I sometimes change my mind on the day and always cancel, what if you're ill? Etc etc very annoying

I think it's definitely a good thing, as well. And people that don't have credit cards can get debit cards that will function as a Visa/Mastercard for this kind of thing. We use mostly debit cards (only recently getting a credit card again) and I make reservations all the time with the debit card.

A work colleague booked crystal palace (at my recommendation because they wanted dinner and see the characters). By the time their reservation came up, they had some very tired kids and just knew they wouldn't be able to make it through. So they went to the podium, waited 20 minutes hearing them say "sorry no tables" to loads of people, got to the front and were told they'd be charged as a no show. They asked if they could give the reservation to someone and told no.

So yeah, it's a good thing to make sure people are serious and they cancel but Disney need to be less stupid about cancelling as well

Yes. I honestly believe that if someone cancels, even at the podium just a bit before the meal, that should be accepted. It's ridiculous to make exhausted children stay for a meal that they are not going to enjoy, and as a result others won't either.

Not allowing them to give the reservation to others who were being turned away is utter nonsense.

I echo the sentiments shared here. I think it's important to have some manner of cancellation policy, but 24 hours seems VAST in "Disney time" and CM's really should be allowed to use their own brains from time to time (as in the case of Keith's friend or ill children).

On our most recent trip, we had an ADR for Boatwrights, but after spending the entire day in the hot sun (and at the Food & Wine Festival) the idea of traveling to POR (via Disney transportation) was simply overwhelming. Luckily, we were able to cancel our reservation at Boatwrights (at 2:00pm for our 6:00pm ADR) and make another ADR for Cape May Cafe at 6:30. Under the new policy, we would have lost $40 - seems a bit harsh to me. I understand the need for a new policy, but let's not pigeon hole folks so tightly that there's no room for impulsivity of any kind - especially on vacation!